Today, more and more Australians are realising the benefits of osteopathy’s simple, drug-free philosophy. The osteopaths at our clinics offer the highest quality of healthcare so that you can get the most out of life!

What are Osteopaths qualified to do?

Osteopaths undergo a minimum of 5 years of university training with special emphasis on anatomy (body structure) and its normal physiology (how it functions physically and chemically). They are experts in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of problems in the musculoskeletal system.

Osteopaths are primary healthcare professionals and are trained to recognise conditions that require medical referral. They use standard medical and orthopaedic examination, as well as a variety of refined osteopathic testing. They are able to interpret abnormal motion, texture and asymmetry in the muscles, bones and joints of the body.

Osteopaths provide a unique approach to how they treat the body. They look for the ‘health’ within the body to determine the cause of the problem rather than just looking at ‘disease’. They treat the body as a ‘single unit of function’ using a variety of treatment approaches that are specifically tailored to the individual’s needs.

Our osteopaths may also discuss your lifestyle and recommend changes to your diet or exercise regime, recommend supplements or refer you to other healthcare providers so that you can achieve optimal results.

You will receive a whole-body assessment and treatment for up to an hour on your first consultation, with subsequent consultations being 30 minutes long.

At your first session, your treating osteopath will ask questions about your symptoms/problems and how long you have had them. You may also be asked about your medical history and other lifestyle factors, and your osteopath will design a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.

Please bring any reports, scans, x-rays etc that you may have. This will help your osteopath form a fuller picture of your condition, and devise the best treatment plan possible.

It is important that you feel comfortable during treatment, so loose-fitting clothing is a good idea. Your osteopath may also ask you to remove some clothing items, depending on which area needs to be treated.

As a general rule of thumb, for every month you have suffered a condition, it might take one week to recover. Depending on your individual situation, you may see changes in your symptoms after one or two sessions. However, long-term chronic conditions may require a longer or more frequent course of treatment.

The friendly team at East Gippsland Osteopathy is happy to discuss any concerns you may have; just ask.

Although many patients are referred to osteopaths by doctors and other health practitioners, you do not need a referral from your GP. As osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners, you can make an appointment directly.Your GP may refer you to an osteopath under a part-funded Medicare chronic disease management plan. Please ask your GP or osteopath for further details.